Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
@terrecolgroup.bsky.social
We are the Terrestrial Ecology Research Group at TU Munich in Freising - headed by Wolfgang Weisser. We investigate patterns and drivers of biodiversity change in agricultural, natural and urban ecosystems.
For his MSc, Frederik Achterberg investigated how weather (precipitation events, temperature, wind speed) affects the visitation of arthropods on arthropod camera traps placed in the field. Weather clearly has an impact, but not always as expected, with complex temporal and taxon-specific effects.
November 25, 2025 at 9:25 AM
For his MSc, Frederik Achterberg investigated how weather (precipitation events, temperature, wind speed) affects the visitation of arthropods on arthropod camera traps placed in the field. Weather clearly has an impact, but not always as expected, with complex temporal and taxon-specific effects.
Robert Künast is using AI Camera traps to monitor insect diversity in grasslands for his PhD. This morning, he shared his results in which he used trap visitation data (thousands of pics) to study how insect activity behaves under different mowing conditions. (Mowing = Not Great for most insects)
November 4, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Robert Künast is using AI Camera traps to monitor insect diversity in grasslands for his PhD. This morning, he shared his results in which he used trap visitation data (thousands of pics) to study how insect activity behaves under different mowing conditions. (Mowing = Not Great for most insects)
We are happy that Prof. Inge Ambrecht from Universidad del Valle in Colombia is visiting us this week. In her seminar, she shared insights from 30 years of working on ant and insect ecology, and discusses their close relevance to agroecological systems, and what we can do to improve these systems.
November 3, 2025 at 4:00 PM
We are happy that Prof. Inge Ambrecht from Universidad del Valle in Colombia is visiting us this week. In her seminar, she shared insights from 30 years of working on ant and insect ecology, and discusses their close relevance to agroecological systems, and what we can do to improve these systems.
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
Plant-Insect-interactions & the chemistry behind it - I‘m happy that the 3rd chapter of the PhD thesis of #HumayNevrzella became online as pre-print. Again a great cooperation with @robinheinennl.bsky.social and @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
#Plantscience
#Plantscience
Compartmentalized above- and belowground defenses in Tanacetum vulgare are tailored to localized antagonists
Specialized metabolites, specially terpenoids, play a key role in plant defense. However, how terpenoid diversity governs inducible chemistry and root architectural development remain poorly understoo...
www.biorxiv.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Plant-Insect-interactions & the chemistry behind it - I‘m happy that the 3rd chapter of the PhD thesis of #HumayNevrzella became online as pre-print. Again a great cooperation with @robinheinennl.bsky.social and @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
#Plantscience
#Plantscience
This morning Lisa Merkens summarized the highlights of her PhD in a short and dense talk, showing how we can use bird ecology, observations and city plans to study and model habitat connectivity and importantly, how to use this to improve cities for biodiversity.
October 28, 2025 at 11:46 AM
This morning Lisa Merkens summarized the highlights of her PhD in a short and dense talk, showing how we can use bird ecology, observations and city plans to study and model habitat connectivity and importantly, how to use this to improve cities for biodiversity.
A very good end of the day today with the defense of @afairbairn.bsky.social, who was awarded his doctoral title summa cum laude. With excellent contributions to the field of urban biodiversity monitoring, crowned by a great public talk and defense. Congratulations, Dr. Fairbairn!
October 22, 2025 at 7:01 PM
A very good end of the day today with the defense of @afairbairn.bsky.social, who was awarded his doctoral title summa cum laude. With excellent contributions to the field of urban biodiversity monitoring, crowned by a great public talk and defense. Congratulations, Dr. Fairbairn!
Today, Lisa Ott presented her MSc thesis work on ground-nesting birds in agricultural landscapes near Nürnberg. Lisa combined her work for an NGO with ecological questions on how different aspects of agricultural landscapes affect breeding success in ao lapwings, skylarks and grey partridge.
October 21, 2025 at 8:34 AM
Today, Lisa Ott presented her MSc thesis work on ground-nesting birds in agricultural landscapes near Nürnberg. Lisa combined her work for an NGO with ecological questions on how different aspects of agricultural landscapes affect breeding success in ao lapwings, skylarks and grey partridge.
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
New paper from our JenaTron facility:
Bröcher et al. show that reciprocal effects between plants and invertebrate herbivores vary with plant species richness, plant history and soil history.
Herbivores want nutritious plants with soil history, while they reduce plant height in monocultures
🐛🌱
Bröcher et al. show that reciprocal effects between plants and invertebrate herbivores vary with plant species richness, plant history and soil history.
Herbivores want nutritious plants with soil history, while they reduce plant height in monocultures
🐛🌱
📰Published📰Plant-insect interactions are shaped by plant diversity and the history of plants and soil🌱
buff.ly/QZsolZQ
🧪🌍
buff.ly/QZsolZQ
🧪🌍
Plant-insect interactions are shaped by plant diversity and the history of plants and soil.
Maximilian Bröcher, Anne Ebeling, Leonardo Bassi, Pamela Medina-van Berkum, Nicole M. van Dam, Nico Eisenhauer, Anna-Maria Madaj, Sybille Unsicker, Alexandra Weigelt, Sebastian T. Meyer This is a p…
buff.ly
October 16, 2025 at 8:30 AM
New paper from our JenaTron facility:
Bröcher et al. show that reciprocal effects between plants and invertebrate herbivores vary with plant species richness, plant history and soil history.
Herbivores want nutritious plants with soil history, while they reduce plant height in monocultures
🐛🌱
Bröcher et al. show that reciprocal effects between plants and invertebrate herbivores vary with plant species richness, plant history and soil history.
Herbivores want nutritious plants with soil history, while they reduce plant height in monocultures
🐛🌱
A lovely talk this morning by PhD Zoe Hentschel. She has been observing ant communities all over Munich this summer, to understand how city greenness characteristics and environment relate to species occurrence throughout the city. Did you realize that more than 20 species occur in Munich?
October 14, 2025 at 7:58 AM
A lovely talk this morning by PhD Zoe Hentschel. She has been observing ant communities all over Munich this summer, to understand how city greenness characteristics and environment relate to species occurrence throughout the city. Did you realize that more than 20 species occur in Munich?
Exhausted and inspired at the same time from four days at the #GfÖ2025. Lots of nice talks, great conversations and (perhaps too much) new information. I'm still buzzing. Nice to get some nice chats after my ALAN talk. Also great to see Eli shine with her poster on her chemodiversity work.
September 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Our Chair returned from an engaging week of ecology, discussion, and fun at #GfÖ2025. We were well-represented this year, with many PhD, postdoc and senior colleagues presenting their work on urban ecology, artificial light, grasslands, forests, biodiversity, chemodiversity, modeling, and lots more.
September 5, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Our Chair returned from an engaging week of ecology, discussion, and fun at #GfÖ2025. We were well-represented this year, with many PhD, postdoc and senior colleagues presenting their work on urban ecology, artificial light, grasslands, forests, biodiversity, chemodiversity, modeling, and lots more.
New Paper alert:
Meret Pundsack and Lisa Merkens co-led this new review paper that also presents a pipeline to use and combine EU Copernicus datasets to make data-driven ecological spatial modelling more accessible, useful in urban planning and ecology.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Meret Pundsack and Lisa Merkens co-led this new review paper that also presents a pipeline to use and combine EU Copernicus datasets to make data-driven ecological spatial modelling more accessible, useful in urban planning and ecology.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
A Copernicus pipeline to create a highly resolved land cover map for modelling urban biodiversity in European cities
Ecological models can provide planners with important information to integrate the needs of animals and plants into urban planning processes, thereby …
www.sciencedirect.com
July 31, 2025 at 1:56 PM
New Paper alert:
Meret Pundsack and Lisa Merkens co-led this new review paper that also presents a pipeline to use and combine EU Copernicus datasets to make data-driven ecological spatial modelling more accessible, useful in urban planning and ecology.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Meret Pundsack and Lisa Merkens co-led this new review paper that also presents a pipeline to use and combine EU Copernicus datasets to make data-driven ecological spatial modelling more accessible, useful in urban planning and ecology.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
#PlantScience
Are you interested in plant chemodiversity & its ecological implications? A great SI in @plantbiology.bsky.social organized by Caroline Müller @chemodiversity.bsky.social
We are happy to contribute with @sunsicker.bsky.social @robinheinennl.bsky.social @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
Are you interested in plant chemodiversity & its ecological implications? A great SI in @plantbiology.bsky.social organized by Caroline Müller @chemodiversity.bsky.social
We are happy to contribute with @sunsicker.bsky.social @robinheinennl.bsky.social @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
Special Issue: Ecology and evolution of plant chemodiversity: Plant Biology: Vol 27, No 5
Click on the title to browse this issue
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
July 12, 2025 at 4:54 PM
#PlantScience
Are you interested in plant chemodiversity & its ecological implications? A great SI in @plantbiology.bsky.social organized by Caroline Müller @chemodiversity.bsky.social
We are happy to contribute with @sunsicker.bsky.social @robinheinennl.bsky.social @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
Are you interested in plant chemodiversity & its ecological implications? A great SI in @plantbiology.bsky.social organized by Caroline Müller @chemodiversity.bsky.social
We are happy to contribute with @sunsicker.bsky.social @robinheinennl.bsky.social @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
I'm happy to contribute to this nice piece of work by Annika Neuhaus from @terrecolgroup.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
I'm happy to contribute to this nice piece of work by Annika Neuhaus from @terrecolgroup.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
Aphid Colony Size in Tansy is Affected by Plant Chemical Composition but not by Belowground Herbivory - Journal of Chemical Ecology
Plants are hosts for above- and belowground insect communities that can influence each other via above-belowground plant-physiological dynamics. To mediate interactions, plants produce secondary metab...
link.springer.com
July 15, 2025 at 9:33 AM
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
I'm happy to contribute to this nice piece of work by Annika Neuhaus from @terrecolgroup.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
I'm happy to contribute to this nice piece of work by Annika Neuhaus from @terrecolgroup.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
Day one of part 3/3 in the @chemodiversity.bsky.social common chemodiversity experiment. This time, we work on the Populus model system. Smooth process, early finish today @jpschnitzlerlab.bsky.social @ybseymen.bsky.social @mhanusch.bsky.social @sunsicker.bsky.social @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
July 7, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Day one of part 3/3 in the @chemodiversity.bsky.social common chemodiversity experiment. This time, we work on the Populus model system. Smooth process, early finish today @jpschnitzlerlab.bsky.social @ybseymen.bsky.social @mhanusch.bsky.social @sunsicker.bsky.social @terrecolgroup.bsky.social
Recently, we made important progress in one of our collaborative projects in which urban design meets ecology. We installed Germany's first 3D-printed and ecologically inspired biodiversity facade, designed by Iuliia Larikova.
A video report can be found here:
www.muenchen.tv/mediathek/vi...
A video report can be found here:
www.muenchen.tv/mediathek/vi...
Deutschlandweit erste Nistfassade aus 3D-Druck
Deutschlandweit erste Nistfassade aus 3D-Druck | In einer Welt, in der die Artenvielfalt in städtischen Gebieten immer mehr abnimmt, suchen Wissenschaftler und Architekten nach innovativen Lösungen, u...
www.muenchen.tv
July 3, 2025 at 10:06 AM
Recently, we made important progress in one of our collaborative projects in which urban design meets ecology. We installed Germany's first 3D-printed and ecologically inspired biodiversity facade, designed by Iuliia Larikova.
A video report can be found here:
www.muenchen.tv/mediathek/vi...
A video report can be found here:
www.muenchen.tv/mediathek/vi...
New Paper: Fabio Sweet dove into relationships between demographic composition and people's attitudes towards animals in cities, and finds that people's demographic niche is an important predictor of their opinions on nature and where it should be.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ba...
@theweirdfox.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ba...
@theweirdfox.bsky.social
Redirecting
doi.org
June 23, 2025 at 11:08 AM
New Paper: Fabio Sweet dove into relationships between demographic composition and people's attitudes towards animals in cities, and finds that people's demographic niche is an important predictor of their opinions on nature and where it should be.
doi.org/10.1016/j.ba...
@theweirdfox.bsky.social
doi.org/10.1016/j.ba...
@theweirdfox.bsky.social
This morning, Lisa Merkens presented a nice study on how to use AI to identify areas suitable for nature conservation, based on the preferences of a very specific model species, the common blackbird. Given the shortage of funds in conservation, this may be a possibility to efficiently use resources?
June 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
This morning, Lisa Merkens presented a nice study on how to use AI to identify areas suitable for nature conservation, based on the preferences of a very specific model species, the common blackbird. Given the shortage of funds in conservation, this may be a possibility to efficiently use resources?
Greenhouse experimental setup part 1. If all works out as planned, Elikplim Setordjie will use these two parallel chemodiversity feedback studies as part of her PhD. Lots of soil mixing and sieving going on. A huge shout-out also to our awesome technician Tanja!
June 12, 2025 at 12:21 PM
We often talk urban ecology in our group. But Laura's work stands out (+!). She uses various models to understand how different aspects of building envelopes determine how plant communities may develop on buildings, combining modeling, theoretical ecology and natural history. Great discussion too!
June 12, 2025 at 12:19 PM
We often talk urban ecology in our group. But Laura's work stands out (+!). She uses various models to understand how different aspects of building envelopes determine how plant communities may develop on buildings, combining modeling, theoretical ecology and natural history. Great discussion too!
Julia presented the results of her MSc thesis this morning. She investigated the role of city structure and human use on bird behavior and connectivity in the urban environment. Lots of interesting findings and inspiration for future study! Nice work, Julia!
June 3, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Julia presented the results of her MSc thesis this morning. She investigated the role of city structure and human use on bird behavior and connectivity in the urban environment. Lots of interesting findings and inspiration for future study! Nice work, Julia!
Congratulations to Annika on publishing her third PhD chapter on the ever wonderful Tansy model system and its specialized aphids and the role of terpenoids in regulating their colony growth.
With @jpschnitzlerlab.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
With @jpschnitzlerlab.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
Happy to share that Annika Neuhaus just published her final PhD chapter in Journal of Chemical Ecology. Here, she investigated whether intraspecific differences in terpenoids mediate above-belowground interactions. Aboveground? Yes. Below? Not so much!
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Aphid Colony Size in Tansy is Affected by Plant Chemical Composition but not by Belowground Herbivory - Journal of Chemical Ecology
Plants are hosts for above- and belowground insect communities that can influence each other via above-belowground plant-physiological dynamics. To mediate interactions, plants produce secondary metab...
link.springer.com
June 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Congratulations to Annika on publishing her third PhD chapter on the ever wonderful Tansy model system and its specialized aphids and the role of terpenoids in regulating their colony growth.
With @jpschnitzlerlab.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
With @jpschnitzlerlab.bsky.social and @robinheinennl.bsky.social
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
I realized while watching this presentation that we often overlook seemingly very obvious things. We always seem to focus on the urban green, but apparently the fifty shades of grey in urban environments also matter for biodiversity. I had never given it much thought. Makes sense though, doesn't it?
We often wonder about the impact of urban green on biodiversity in our group. This week, we heard from Antonia about the impacts of the built environment! She showed in her MSc thesis that buildings, and their distinct associations with humans, also drive bird diversity. Nice work Antonia!
May 22, 2025 at 7:02 AM
I realized while watching this presentation that we often overlook seemingly very obvious things. We always seem to focus on the urban green, but apparently the fifty shades of grey in urban environments also matter for biodiversity. I had never given it much thought. Makes sense though, doesn't it?
We often wonder about the impact of urban green on biodiversity in our group. This week, we heard from Antonia about the impacts of the built environment! She showed in her MSc thesis that buildings, and their distinct associations with humans, also drive bird diversity. Nice work Antonia!
May 22, 2025 at 6:59 AM
We often wonder about the impact of urban green on biodiversity in our group. This week, we heard from Antonia about the impacts of the built environment! She showed in her MSc thesis that buildings, and their distinct associations with humans, also drive bird diversity. Nice work Antonia!
Reposted by Terrestrial Ecology Research Group - TUM
What a great week for Max, he also defended his PhD with great success - congratulations!
Stay tuned for more of his research on plant-consumer interactions 🌱🪲
With proud supervisors @ebelingae.bsky.social, Sebastian Meyer @terrecolgroup.bsky.social & Holger Schielzeth
Stay tuned for more of his research on plant-consumer interactions 🌱🪲
With proud supervisors @ebelingae.bsky.social, Sebastian Meyer @terrecolgroup.bsky.social & Holger Schielzeth
May 15, 2025 at 11:51 AM
What a great week for Max, he also defended his PhD with great success - congratulations!
Stay tuned for more of his research on plant-consumer interactions 🌱🪲
With proud supervisors @ebelingae.bsky.social, Sebastian Meyer @terrecolgroup.bsky.social & Holger Schielzeth
Stay tuned for more of his research on plant-consumer interactions 🌱🪲
With proud supervisors @ebelingae.bsky.social, Sebastian Meyer @terrecolgroup.bsky.social & Holger Schielzeth